On Picacho, hikers have ideas on how to keep park open

On Picacho, hikers have ideas on how to keep park open

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, John and Andrea Wise take a rest at the saddle on Picacho Peak and take in the view of the back side of Picacho Peak State Park.

On Picacho, hikers have ideas on how to keep park open

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, Don White, left, a 76-year-old snowbird from Iowa, takes in the view from the summit of Picacho Peak with Dell Malstrom, 78, from Massachusetts, LaVon Rosenkrance, 72, from Idaho and Blaine Malstrom, 75, from Oregon. The group has climbed the mountain about eight times, and wonders if and when they will be able to climb the peak again given the June closure of Picacho Peak State Park.

On Picacho, hikers have ideas on how to keep park open

Randy Metcalf/The Explorer, A group from Phoenix makes their way down one of the steeper portions of the climb to the summit of Picacho Peak. The two-mile trail, along with the rest of the park, will not be accessible to anyone if the park closes June 3.